Bedrail support



March 2, 1965 K. H. GUTNER 3,171,140

BEDRAIL SUPPORT Filed Dec. s, 1962 United States Patent O 3,171,i4l BEDRAL SUPQRT Kenneth H. Gartner, 32%5 Dato, Highland Park, lill. Filed Bee. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,706 2 Claims. (Cl. 5 296) This invention relates to a bedrail support, and, more particularly, to a means for attaching a bedrail to the bed ends (ie, head and footboards) which eliminates the need for providing the usual slots commonly found in head and footboards.

The invention finds particular utility in connection With bookcase style headboards where the legs of the headboard are provided in the form of x l2" boards. The 3/4 thickness is inadequate for the provision of the usual elongated slot necessary to receive the hooked end of a bedrail, so that the practice in the past has been to install a wood block equipped with the necessary hook-receiving recess. This has been time-consuming and expensive in material, since the headboard necessarily must be Wider to accommodate the additional thickness of the blocks.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a means for avoiding this expenditure or" time and material, along with providing a superior attachment for the bedrails to the head and footboards than has heretofore been employed.

A more generalized object or the invention is to provide a novel bedrail support member of unitary nature which is adapted to be secured to a head or ootboard and which uniquely immobilizes the bedrail in a manner distinctive over the expedients employed in the prior art.

Still another object is to provide a bed frame employing a set of bedrails along with head and footboards which are uniquely interconnected to provide a more rigid construction than been hitherto available, yet which is advantageous in minimizing the unused portions of the end boards.

ther objects and advantages of the invention may be seen m the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention will be described in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in Which- FIG. l is a perspective elevational view of a bed headboard equipped with the inventive structure, the precise style headboard shown being that of the bookcase style;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the inventive support attachment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational View of a headboard coupled to a bedrail by means of the inventive support member;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of liG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 or" FIG. 3.

ln the illustration given, and with particular reference to FIG. l, the numeral il) designates generally a bookcase style headboard equipped with legs 11, a top i2, and a compartment deiining cross member 13 which also serves to brace the legs 1i. In the precise illustration shown, doors ift are provided, but it Will be appreciated that a Wide variety of bookcase style headboards are currently available on the market. The invention is also advantageouslyy applicable to panel style endboards. For the most part, the lower structure of the headboards currently available is made up of legs 11 which have the previously-mentioned cross-sectional dimensions of approximately' a/JX X l2".

To interconnect the headboard with the usual side rails such as generally designated 15 in FIGS. 3-5, it has rice been the practice to install Wooden blocks on the insides of the legs 11. These Wooden lblocks have been equipped with vertically-extending slots for the receipt of the lbedrail hooks such as are designated 16 in FIG. 3. In the illustration given, the bedrail generally designated 15 includes a Wooden beam portion 15a and a metal plate portion 16a providing the hooks 16. Since the spacing of the bedrails is dictated by the width of the mattress or box spring (and these come in pre-determined Widths), the spacing of the slots in the just-mentioned additional blocks is also predetermined. This has meant that the members 12 and 13 have had to be correspondingly sized. By virtue of eliminating the blocks, and through the use of the inventive construction seen in FIG. 2 (as installed in FIG. 1), there has resulted a saving in the length of the members 12 and 13. This means a saving also in the veneer applied to the member 12, a saving in the carton employed to ship the headboard, etc.

The construction responsible for these savings is generally designated by the numeral 17, and is seen to include an elongated, bar-like member equipped with transversely-extending shoulders 18 adjacent, but spaced from, each end i9, as is best seen in FIG. 2.

Reference to FIG. 4 reveals that when the member 17 is installed against the leg 11, the shoulders 18 dene end portions 2li which act as feet or bearing members in contact with the side of the leg 11 and also provide a central portion generally designated 21 which outstands from the inner surface 11a of the leg 11. Thus, the central portion 2l of the member 17, in combination with the leg 11, deines a slot 22 (.still referring to FIG. 4) which serves as a means for receiving the hook 16 of the bedrail l5.

The central portion is equipped` with beads 23 laterally aligned With screw openings 24. The openings 24 are provided by first punching then extruding the member 17 to define neck-like portions 24a which aid in spacing the central portion 21 from the leg 11.

The depression or beads 23 with which the member 17 is equipped cooperate with the inner face 11a of the leg l1 (see FIG. 5) to immobolize the hook 15; Optimally, a pair of beads 23 is associated with each opening 24 provided in the centr-al portion 21. Each of the aforementioned pairs of beads 23 is transversely aligned with its associated opening 24 and the :beads 23 of each pair are positioned on opposite ysides of the opening 24, as can be clearly seen from FIG. v2.

Additionally, the end portions 20 are equipped with openings 25 which, like the openings 24, permit the introduction of Wood screwsV for securing the member 17 to the leg 11. As is best seen in FlG. 4, wood screws 25 extend through the openings 25, While other screws 27 extend through the openings 24, being confined by the necklike portions 2da.

As an example of the inventive construction, the member 17 is constructed of 14 gage cold rolled steel l Wide by 7% long and with 5% between the shoulders 1li. The openings 2d and 2S are positioned on the longitudinal center lline of the element 17 and `are also transversely centered so that the device can be installed with either end i9 uppermost. Additionally, since the end portions 2b and the beads 23 each project in the same direction, and because the neck-like portions 24k are slightly outwardly tapered as at 2412 in FIG. 5, the elements 17 can be conveniently stacked in nested relation for shipping.

In the specific example, the offset of the end portions 2t? relative to the central portion 21, i.e., the height of the shoulders 1li, is about 0.150. The openings 24 are sized to accommodate the recipt of No. 14 Wood -screivs having a Ms" length, lwith the opening V24 being on -2"- Centers equally spaced from the ends 19 so as to accomodate standard bedrail hooks. The openings 25 are seized to receive No. 9 or No. 10 wood screws long, and the difference lbetween the screws 26 and 27 can be appreciated lfrom a consideration of FIG. 4.

The beading l23 projects inwardly (into the slot 22) from the central portion 21 about 0.060", with the preferred form of bead being a circular depression having a diameter of about %6".

In the fabrication of the element 17, the operation starts with a coil of cold rolled steel of 13 or 14 gauge and one inch wide. This ribbon from the coil is intro duced into a two-stage or gang punch wherein the rst die is employed to punch the -four holes 24 and 25 along with the four .beads 23. Initially, the holes 24 are 0.100 in diameter. The ribbon is then advanced the length of one element 17 and the second stage of the gang die is employed to develop the shoulders 18, extrude the sides of the openings 24 to develop the linal diameter and also the tapered neck-like portions 24a, and cut the ribbon transversely to develop an individual element 17. The neck-like portions 24a project about 0.150"the width of the slot 22. Thereafter, the elements 17 are tumbled to remove any burrs and debris, after which they may be shipped in bulk or nested, as mentioned hereinbefore.

In operation, an element -17 is secured to the inner face of each of the four legs of a bed-as against the 'face 11a of the -leg 11. The wood screws 26 and 27 are installed as seen in FIGS. 3-5 at the height indicated f'or supporting the box spring or mattress. Conveniently, the legs 11 may be appropriately pre-drilled to indicate the nal assembly line where the eiements 17 are to be installed. This is conventionally done at the furniture manufacturers factory, and once the head and ootboards are so equipped, vthey are packaged for shipment lto a retail store, where they may be assembled with the beadrails 15 for display purposes.

Alternatively, the shipment may be made directly to the ultimate user, but in any case the bedrails 15 are then employed to couple the headboard and the footboard (not shown). The bedrails may include a horizontally-extending, elongated wooden element `as at 15a to `which the hook-providing portion 16a may be suitably anchored as by screws 28. It will be appreciated that a metal bedrail (i.e., angle iron) may be employed equally advantageously in the practice of the invention.

Operation In the operation of the invention, the hook-providing portion 16a provides the hooks 16 which are initially inserted into the slot 22 in the dotted line position designated 29 in FIG. 3. In other words, the upper hook 16 has its upper wall 16b abutting the upper shoulder 18 during the initial inward movement of the hook 16 relative to the member 17. Thereafter, a downward movement of the hook `16--by virtue of lowering the rail 15--is performed, and the arrangement seen in FIG. 3 is achieved. During this downward movement of the bedrail 15, the hooks 16 engage .the beads 23 and this engagement persists so long as the hooks 16 are seated in the slot 22. By virtue of providing the spacing between the inner tip 23a of each bead 23 and the fface 11a less than the thickness of the hook 16, there is developed a slight pressure against the hooks 16 which advantageously immobilizes them within the slot 22. Here, it will be appreciated that the slot 22 necessarily must be slightly oversized relative to the thickness of the hook-providing mem-ber 16 so as to accommodate members 16a that might be slightly deformed through handling or usage. lIn actual practice, the hook thickness is of the order of 0.090" but also the hooks are slightly out of planar -form so that the slight tolerance provided Iby the difference in width of the space -22 and the projection of the beads 23 is advantageous to prevent binding during insei-tion of the hooks. Because of this deformation, as

well as possible deformation of the elements 17 themselves, the neck-like portions 24a are advantageous in maintaining the width of the slot. Often, in assembly, the artisan who applies the wood screws 27 =will tighten them too much so as to defonm the central portion 21 of the member 17 inwardly to the extent that the siot 22 is unable to suitably receive the hook 16. This is preeluded through the use of the neck-like portions 24a, which additionally serve to guard the wood screws 27 against damage and possible dislocation because of stresses transmitted thereto (from the bedrail 15.

The previously-mentioned slight pressure developed by the spacing of the beads tips 23 and the inner face 11a of the headboard leg 11 may result in a slight yielding of the leg 11 so as to conform to the contour of the hooks 16 and thus further immobilize the hooks 16 by virtue of the resiliency of the metal member 17.

It will be appreciated that the employment of the nventive member 17 is not `restricted to bookcase style yheadboards---this -modilication being illustrated because of the particular savings that accrue therefrom. The inventive construction is also advantageously utilizable in connection with panel style headboards where the legs usually are constructed of 2 square lumber and equipped `with a centrally located slot. Through the use of the inventive construction, savings are also available in material, since the leg size may be reduced to 11/2 or 1%" and a corresponding saving made in the material employed to make the cross mem-bers 12 and 13. Here, it will be appreciated that fractions of inches in material are saved in eac-h bed, but, considering the large volume production of beds, the savings can be appreciable. Also, anything that cuts down the overall width of the bed frame is desirable, since only utilizable portion of the bed is that provided by the mattress, irrespective of the width of the head `and footboards.

While, in the yforegoing specification, a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the sake of explaining the invention, many variations in the details herein given may Ibe made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bedrail support, comprising a unitary elongated at member constr-ucted of resilient metal and having a transversely-extending shoulder adjacent to but spaced from each end to provide a central portion raised relative to the offset end portions defined by said shoulders, a screw opening in each end portion and a pair of screw openings in said central portion, said openings being longitudinally aligned with said pair of openings being longitudinally spaced to support the hooks of the bedrail, said central portion being equipped with an integral neck-like portion about each central portion screw opening, said neck-like portion projecting from said central portion in the direction of said offset of said end portion from said central portion, said central portion being further equipped with a bead adjacent one of said pair of openings, said `bead projecting from said central portion in the direction of said offset of said end portion from said central portion.

2. In a connection of the character described, a headboard providing a vertical leg having an inner face, a

supporting element secured to said inner face and developing with said inner face a hook-receiving slot, and a bedrail equipped with hooks at the ends thereof, said hooks being mounted in said slot, said member comprising a unitary, elongated bar-like 4resilient metal member, said member having a generally rectangular transverse section, and a pair of transversely-extending shoulders adjacent to but spaced from each end of said member to dene end portions offset from the central portion, said central portion cooperating with the said inner face to dene said slot, openings in said central and end portions, a screw extending through each opening, with the screws extending through the central openings providing means for carrying the Weight yof said bedr-ail, said central portion being equipped with integral neck-like portions extending toward said inner face and about each central portion opening to confine the screws Vextending through 5 said central portion opening' and space said central portion from said inner face, and a bead in said central portion extending toward said leg inner face, said bead normally being spaced from said leg inner face less References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dyke May 2s, 1918 Bau May 1o, 195s 

1. A BEDRAIL SUPPORT, COMPRISING A UNITARY ELONGATED FLAT MEMBER CONSTRUCTED OF RESILIENT METAL AND HAVING A TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING SHOULDER ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM EACH END TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL PORTION RAISED RELATIVE TO THE OFFSET END PORTIONS DEFINED BY SAID SHOULDERS, A SCREW OPENING IN EACH END PORTION AND A PAIR OF SCREW OPENINGS IN SAID CENTRAL PORTION, SAID OPENINGS BEING LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID PAIR OF OPENINGS BEING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TO SUPPORT THE HOOKS OF THE BEDRAIL, SAID CENTRAL PORTION BEING EQUIPPED WITH AN INTEGRAL NECK-LIKE PORTION ABOUT EACH CENTRAL PORTION SCREW OPENING, SAID NECK-LIKE PORTION PROJECTING FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID OFFSET OF SAID END PORTION FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION, SAID CENTRAL PORTION BEING FURTHER EQUIPPED WITH A BEAD ADJACENT ONE OF SAID PAIR OF OPENINGS, SAID BEAD PROJECTING FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID OFFSET OF SAID END PORTION FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION. 